Wraps, Gaps, and Playing Taps!

Whew! 2025 was a helluva year of loss for Rockers all around the world! But the year also brought back some artists to active duty (Gaps), and as usually happens, some artists have hung up the touring game, or the music, completely (Wraps) in this past year. There's a personal side to this week's episode as well. Here's to a brighter (and healthier) new year for our Rock heroes, who are aging as we do. Did we forget someone? Email us: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Jimmy Cliff passed away November 24, 2025, it was a bit of a shock to most people. He'd been busy, producing music, and making future plans before a fall changed everything. Markus & Ray are both major fans, rushing this episode to "the front of the line." Thank you, Jimmy, for all you gave us, especially your indomitable spirit! Fly free! Email us your thoughts at [email protected] Check out all of our episodes on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Markus and Ray have done this before, but somehow it always comes out different! But this is repeat #2 of this great Xmas episode! The boys are promising a fresh take in 2026! The Imbalanced Boys have covered 5 Fave Rock n’ Roll Christmas songs, as well as 5 Fave Heavy Metal Xmas songs, (and a couple other related passes) a few times in their almost 7 years as a podcast! Nothing beats listening to nouveau holiday favorites, mixed with classics, at the holidays! You might be surprised, if you’ve enjoyed their Xmas treats before, at what is (and isn’t) a part of this year’s take on holiday music! So, kick back with some holiday grog, a hot toddy, or whatever sets the mood right, and enjoy this episode of 5 Favorites, and…have a very Merry Christmas & yes, a joyous New Year!" In case you missed it, here's a Spotify link to that #AlicesRestaurant episode we discussed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rather than just list them all, Mark and Ray dance through this era-focused topic, guitars in hand, for an episode of Game Changers! Starting with a brief history of the Fender Strat, and a brief side road about "the two Jimmys," the "Imbalanced Ones" cram as much '70s axe action into this one as possible! The 1970s didn't arrive fully formed, so the discussion has to include those Sixties players, like Jimi Hendrix, who opened doors and laid the base forSeventies-specific guitarists. No discussion of the decade and guitar is complete without talking about Eddie Van Halen, which bookends this story. Cotton and color gave way to artificial fabric and varied print patterns, the Hippies yielded to Suburbia...it's the 1970's in America! Disco was around the corner...but Rock was King to start the decade, and guitars drove a massive wave of music to an exploding youth culture! There might be a #FiveFavorites follow-up given the influential mountain of talent on guitar discussed in this episode!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can't tell the story any better than this annual repeat episode about one of our favorites, John Lennon! John meant the world, to most people, and definitely to both of us. His music, his message, and his fun way of spreading it, attracted so many to him. One wicked soul saw things differently than most. He took John's life on 12/8/1980... Forgiveness is a virtue, but forgive us for being less than virtuous in our disdain for that man. For us, the living, we have found ways to move forward for decades now. This episode, repeated this week, has helped some of those who still mourn. Markus and Ray had two very different evenings on December 8th, 1980. Hear their stories, and a Rock & Roll intersection on that date, and the mournful night after. Thank you, and here's our best wishes for a happy holiday season, whichever one(s) you celebrate. And If like us, you mark them ALL...let's party!!! Special thanks to producer Tony "Shoes" Maddox for his original production on the flashback part of this episode! Don't forget that you can find all of our episodes, on-demand, for free right here on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn about the immense cast of characters who ARE Deep Purple, and find about some near misses that might surprise you! Unexpected twists can be so much fun, and we unearthed a few in this episode! Before you break out that old guitar and plug-in for some rust-knocking with that classic riff (you know which one), dig in for some fun with the guys...all of them! Take time to learn stuff about stuff you already know stuff about! Listen to this cool episode, and then get caught up here!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Massacrepreat of our original episode from 2024 is dedicated to our dearly departed brother, Pierre Robert, as well as Alice Brock, the story's central figure, who passed away last year just before Thanksgiving. The roasting of the bird! The sharing of the bounty! A tradition that goes back to the earliest days of America. The Imbalanced Boys get into that, but mainly they discuss the modern day addition of Arlo Guthrie's "Alice Restaurant" to the holiday musical fare! Earle Bailey of Sirius-XM stops by to offer historical perspective to the discussion. He shares a couple surprises! Other forms of the original song/album are discussed, it's role in the movement to stop the Vietnam War, as well as a film about the original story in 1969! However you celebrate, be thankful for what you have, and share what you can! We're thankful that you're here!!! Markus & Ray Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the Imbalanced Boys explore the birth and life (so far) of Pearl Jam. They were formed by Seattle stalwarts after the death of Andrew Wood, the singer for Mother Love Bone. The episode includes a brief discussion of Wood's death, as Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament moved on and found an incredible Rock & Roll life. The boys discuss the arrival of Eddie Vedder, and the various drummers who've been in the fold, as part of the overall history of this living legend of a band! Unlike many subjects here on the podcast, this band is still going, at their own pace, in their own way. And we follow... Please add to the conversation by commenting here, or by email: [email protected] Listen or find other episodes on our web site!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They learn as they go, but despite best efforts, this is the only set of Birthday Triplets the Imbalanced Boys have unearthed, so far. Born on November 10th, 1947: Greg Lake, Progressive Rock founder/innovator (King Crimson/ELP) Glen Buxton, lead guitarist of the Alice Cooper Band Dave Loggins, Hall Of Fame singer/songwriter They're all gone now... They'd be 78 today... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rock & Roll world lost a major figure when "Ace" Frehley succumbed to his injuries, sustained in a fall in his studio, on October 16... His impact and influence on the music world is clear, and Kiss fans feel the loss heavily... Ray and Markus discuss their own feelings, and impressions of the man, and his band, in this upbeat memorial. Since then, the guy's immediate world has been rocked to the core with the untimely death of their brother and fellow WMMR personality, Pierre Robert. This episode is dedicated to him... Email us any time at [email protected], especially with your thoughts and memories about Ace! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices